Cheyenne Koesters of Arlington, Texas, and Bodee Kruger from Lake Lillian, Minnesota, emerged victorious in the Cinch #13 Gold Shootout at the Houston Super Sort. They sorted 30 head in three rounds in 165.90 seconds, earning $7,794.
While Kruger has previously tasted success in Gold Shootout competitions, this win was a significant achievement for Koesters, who had come close in the past but never clinched the title.
“I have been trying to win one of these Gold Shootouts for a while,” Koesters said. “I’m so happy that I won it at Houston. It’s one of my favorite shows.”
The duo’s strategy for the final round was simple: keep it clean and aim for a smooth run.
“Being the second draw laid us out perfectly,” Koesters explained. “We got a decently nice layout, and Bodie and I were really in sync.”
Despite not frequently competing together due to distance, Koesters and Kruger’s familiarity with each other’s riding style proved invaluable during the competition.
“We ride together sometimes,” Koesters said. “We were super close to winning a class at Las Vegas a couple of years ago, but it just didn’t work out the way we planned it to.”
The strong performance of their horses was a key factor in their success at the Houston event.
Koesters rode her mare Oaklie, a standout 2018 horse that she has developed into one of her top mounts. Oaklie’s consistency and skill in the sorting pen have contributed to numerous wins throughout Koesters’ career.